Anticipating significant progress from three Tigers as they enter their second seasons.
When highly-regarded freshmen prospects are forced to wait their turn behind seasoned players, your football program is doing something well.
For the Missouri Tigers, such is the case as Eliah Drinkwitz and company are now able to sit gifted rookies for a season or two before expecting them to make a big impact. This adds excellent depth to the roster and guarantees that those individuals will be ready when their time comes.
It’s true that some players, like Williams Nwaneri and Luther Burden III, are so good that they will push for playing time during their rookie campaigns. That is again another fantastic issue.
However, a number of the team’s rookies from the previous season are expected to assume even more responsibility after picking up knowledge from the veterans who led the 2023 club.
I looked at three people that I think will be well-known by 2024:
Missouri vs. Middle Tennessee in NCAA football
USA TODAY Sports’ Denny Medley
Safety | Marvin Burks Jr. | St. Louis, Mo.
6 feet 1 inch and 201 pounds.
2023 stats: 4 kick return yards on 4 returns, 1 TFL, 1 sack, and 16 total tackles.
Mr. Burks, who made his debut against South Dakota with four tackles and a sack, showed us a lot of promise. Against Memphis, he recorded five tackles. For the remainder of the season, Burks played infrequently, but when his turn came, he usually stepped up and did a good job.
In addition to having the physicality and instincts to hold his own as a true freshman, the former 4-star prospect shown that he has the frame to play safety in this league. Although Burks still needs to improve in his coverage skills, he doesn’t hesitate to approach the line of scrimmage and take aim at anyone who gets in his way. Given his stature and quickness, Burks is a player who might cause havoc for this defense in the future. His physical attributes are similar to those of Daylan Carnell.
Burks has the ability to return kicks, and I envision him developing in that role with increased playing time the next season.
Given how many snaps Burks played last season, it’s logical to assume that the coaching staff believes in him and wants him to play a bigger role in the 2024 squad. There will probably be a lot of guys vying for the open safety post that Jaylon Carlies left open. Burks is likely to be substituted in often even if he is not selected for the position.
Offensive Guard Logan Reichert | Kansas City, Mo.
369 pounds at 6 feet 6 inches.
2023 Statistics: Activated
It has been long anticipated that Tiger fans will witness the real premiere of the “Big Ticket,” as Reichert has come to be known within the program, in 2024.
Reichert is more than just a metaphorical elephant in the room, and I mean that in the best way possible. With a wingspan that surpasses six feet ten inches to go along with that size. Although he played a variety of positions in high school, his style of play doesn’t transition to guard at this level.
I couldn’t think of a better left guard to learn from than Xavier Delgado, and Reichert did just that in 2023 while redshirting. He ought to be prepared for the hardships that come with competing in the SEC’s trenches, both physically and emotionally.
Even with his massive build, Reichert is a real athlete. The former high school basketball player’s range of motion frequently fools opposing defenders due to his excellent footwork. Whether Cayden Green slides to left guard or tackle, it will determine a lot about where he plays.
Wide receiver Joshua Manning | Lee’s Summit, Mo.
6 feet 2 inches and 199 pounds.
2023 Stats: Made 12 appearances on special teams in games.
Every wide receiver that caught a pass in the previous season will be back for another shot in 2024, meaning that Mizzou will once again have a loaded wide receiver room.
However, that doesn’t mean Manning can’t advance through the ranks. Despite playing little on offense in the previous season, Manning persevered on special teams and gained the respect of both the coaching staff and the players as a result.
Due to his track experience, the wide receiver has exceptional straight-line speed and was a reliable downfield threat in high school. I can see Manning following in the footsteps of fellow rookie Marquis Johnson, who seemed to fit that position for the Tigers the previous season, and establishing his mark as a splash-play receiver.
It would be naive to think that Manning could record more than 20 catches and establish himself as a starting wide receiver because the depth chart is still stacked. However, he ought to see more offensive field time in 2024, and Kirby Moore might try to use him in a manner akin to how he did with Johnson in ’23.
Ultimately, it’s encouraging for this program that a guy of Manning’s quality will have difficulty earning snaps. Those two should only gain as upperclassmen because the WR room has some of the best depth in the country.
